Deadline Date: May 06, 2026
The Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) is a partnership initiative between the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and eligible local councils that supports arts, culture, and heritage projects to strengthen diverse and inclusive communities across the state.
The program supports arts and cultural activities that provide public value for Queensland communities, build local cultural capacity, encourage cultural innovation and community development, and contribute to the Queensland Government’s objectives for the community.
Local priorities for 2025/2026 include supporting locally driven content and cultural tourism products for local events, promoting lifelong learning opportunities that enable career development and growth, encouraging community wellbeing through inclusive arts and cultural activities accessible to marginalized or minority groups, strengthening cultural tourism by showcasing community diversity and creative enterprise to enhance the city’s reputation for cultural experiences, and supporting placemaking initiatives that help communities activate and transform local spaces while highlighting local identity, biodiversity, and environmental connections.
The Regional Arts Development Fund is administered locally by the Arts Development Officer in partnership with the volunteer RADF Community Committee, which assesses all applications. Funding is offered annually through three funding rounds, and the allocation of funds is determined by the committee rather than the Arts Development Officer.
The program is open to individual emerging and established artists, producers, and creative practitioners, as well as organizations, businesses, groups or collectives, and registered not-for-profit organizations. Applicants must reside within the Mackay Regional Council area or demonstrate how their project will benefit arts and culture in the region. Applicants are also required to be permanent residents or Australian citizens, hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) or be auspiced by an incorporated organization or individual with an ABN, and maintain a valid public liability insurance certificate of $20 million.
Applicants may submit up to two successful applications per calendar year, provided that any previous grant has been properly acquitted. Funding requests can be made for up to $13,000, with the program covering a maximum of 65 percent of the total project expenses. Applicants must contribute the remaining 35 percent of the project cost, which may include in-kind contributions.
For more information, visit Mackay Regional Council.
